Stop the Scammers! Be on your guard against scam texts

At Loans 2 Go we want to provide information to our customers about different types of scam that exist in today’s digital age, to help prevent you falling for them. 

We have a dedicated page on our website – Recognising Frauds and Scams. We have also put together a mini series – Stop the Scammers!. In previous articles we have already covered:

• How to recognise a fake website;
• How do you know if a business is genuine?
• What to do with phishing emails.

In this article we take a look at scam texts. We will explain how to recognise a scam text, and what to do with it.

What is a scam text?

In our last article we explored the topic of phishing emails, which usually try to trick you into clicking on a link to a fake website. You will then be asked either to enter personal information or pay money. But, just like phishing emails, you can find yourself on the receiving end of scam texts. This is sometimes referred to as “smishing.” 

We covered many of the examples of smishing in our article How do you know if a business is genuine?. These include bogus banks, online payment companies, delivery companies, and government bodies such as HMRC.

Other examples of smishing include a friendly text from someone you have apparently met, an amazing job or investment opportunity, or a notification of a major prize win.

However, the problem with scams is that they constantly evolve, and you may receive a text that you’re not sure about but which is not related to any of the above examples. So let’s take a look at how to recognise a scam text.

Five ways to spot a scam text

• Are you expecting to hear from the sender?

Even in this digital age, it is quite unusual for a legitimate text to suddenly turn up out of the blue. So when you receive a text just have a quick think about whether or not you are expecting it. For example, if your bank or payment company regularly texts you about your balance or payments due, it should not be completely unexpected to receive a text from them. 

But if this is not the case, and one day you receive an unprompted text, be wary. Particularly if the text is asking you to take any action that involves clicking a link.

• Do you subscribe to text messages from the company?

There may be other companies and organisations that you don’t hear from regularly, but you are subscribed to their communications. For example a store, hotel or food chain that occasionally may send you special offers. 

But if you get a text from a business you don’t use or have never heard of, and definitely have not subscribed to, at the very least they are breaching data protection regulations by using your number. And it is quite likely that the text is actually a scam that has been sent to you at random. So treat it with caution.

• Is the text from a recognised name or number?

If you receive text messages from a business, whether regularly or occasionally, the name of the business should appear on the text, where the sender’s number usually is. It is very unlikely that a professional company would start sending text from a different phone number, particularly a mobile number. So be on your guard if this is the case.

• Are the content and tone of the text professional?

As well as being sent from a legitimate number, a genuine text will be well-worded and have a professional tone. If the text does not read well, contains spelling mistakes, or sounds abrupt, it is likely to be a scam.

• Does the text ask you to click a link?

Most scam texts include a link that they will encourage you to click. DON’T! The purpose of such links are either to download malicious software that can access anything on your phone, or to steal personal or financial ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​​‌‌​​‍‌​​‌​‌‌​‍‌​​‌‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌​​​​‍‌​​​‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌‌‌​​‍‌​​‌​​​​‍‌​​​ information or money.

How to report a scam text

In general, the best thing to do with a scam text is delete and ignore it. Even if you try to block the number it appeared to come from, this could either be a spoof number or the scammers will just start to use another one.

However, there are also ways to report it which could help to reduce the number of scam texts you get, and protect you and others.

With most UK phone providers you can report a suspicious text message by forwarding it to 7726. This costs nothing, and enables your phone provider to investigate the origin of the text. If it’s a scam, the sender can be blocked or banned.

What to do if you have responded to a scam text

If you have accidentally clicked on the link and provided any kind of private information, you should change your passwords immediately. Also alert your bank or card provider if you have paid any money.

If you think you have been scammed, also report it to Action Fraud as soon as possible, either online or by calling 0300 123 2040.

We hope that the information in this article helps you to be on your guard against spam texts, and to know what to do if you receive one. Also do check out other articles in our Stop the Scammers! Series for help with different kinds of scams.